How to keep rust off your trains

Hal Miller with a water-damaged locomotive box

Those little packets of silica gel that come in model train and other boxes are there for a reason – to keep moisture away from your valuable items. Classic Toy Trains Editor Hal Miller tells you how they work and where you can get more if you’ve thrown yours away. […]

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Lionel no. 362 barrel loader

Roger Carp with Lionel no. 362 barrel loader

The year 1952 was a spectacular one for Lionel operating toy train accessories. An enduring favorite to come out of it was the no. 362 barrel loader. Professor Carp gives the history of the item and discusses changes and variations, while Classic Toy Trains Editor Hal Miller looks at how it operates. You can get […]

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State Line Route in N scale: Adding layout elevations, Episode 4

Time to turn a flat tabletop into a layout with aesthetically pleasing elevations and undulations. But before David gets too far into cutting plywood, he first talks through a few changes to the N scale track plan. Plus, you’ll also see his clever, easily removable backdrop installation. […]

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An Atlas hopper, a Menards UFO scene, and a new DVD! Plus modeling tips and viewer mail

Cody Grivno sitting on the set of Codys Office with three products to review

It’s episode 273 of Cody’s Office, and Group Technical Editor Cody Grivno is in to talk about the new Atlas HO scale ACF six-bay cylindrical covered hopper, the Menards HO scale M&Ms UFO scene, and the Trains Minnesota Railroads DVD! He also offers some helpful modeling tips, and answers viewer mail. […]

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State Line Route in N scale: Building legs for a layout, Episode 3

David and Jenny jump right into the assembly of the removeable, wood legs and braces used to elevate the L-girder benchwork off the ground. Along the way, David shares construction tips and tricks that apply to the construction of any layout – large or small! […]

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A visit to John Staschak’s O gauge layout

Overview of John Staschak's toy train layout with superimposed cover of September 2021 Classic Toy Trains

John’s layout appears in the September 2021 issue of Classic Toy Trains. It features tremendous trackwork and wonderful scenery (see the plan here), in addition to some spectacular modern trains. Watch and hear freight and passenger consists work their way around it. […]

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San Francisco Cable Car Free Ride

San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s (sfmta.com) iconic cable cars are up and running again. Even better, rides are free of charge in the month of August 2021! But if you want to skip the lines, watch this Trains.com slow-TV video of the ups, downs, and close calls on the notoriously steep downtown streets of San […]

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